Deputy Chief of Party – USAID/ East Africa Transboundary Ecosystem Restoration Activity

About Palladium:  
Palladium is a global company working to design, develop and deliver positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of people around the globe; broaden access to health, water, power, and infrastructure; build enduring, sustainable, and transformative institutions and market systems to address global challenges; and conserve the natural world. We operate in over 90 countries and have a workforce of 4,000 talented, motivated, and diverse staff of all religions, races, languages, and gender identities.    

This Proposal Opportunity:  
The upcoming USAID/Kenya East Africa Transboundary Ecosystem Restoration and Climate Resilience Activity will work to promote climate resilient transboundary ecosystem conservation and management in critical areas of biological and economic significance in the East Africa region for the benefit of the ecosystem, people and the economy. It will focus on one or two regional transboundary landscapes: the Great East African Plains (Kenya-Tanzania) and Northern Savannas (Kenya-Uganda-South Sudan).

Position Summary:
Under the leadership of the Chief of Party (COP), the Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) leads technical aspects of the project in compliance with USAID and Palladium rules and regulations to achieve project objectives. The DCOP will oversee project activities and support the technical teams in developing and implementing innovative approaches for biodiversity and climate action, including identifying and fostering partnerships to implement nature-based solutions that conserve key ecosystems while delivering economic value to local communities and improving local resilience to climate change. The DCOP will provide support to the COP in liaising, programmatic, strategic development, and quality control duties. The DCOP shall have a depth and breadth of technical expertise and experience, a solid professional reputation, interpersonal skills, and professional relationships to fulfill the requirements of the activity. This position will be based in either Nairobi, Kenya or Arusha, Tanzania.

*This is a proposal position and is contingent upon award from USAID.*

Primary Responsibilities: 

The Deputy Chief of Party will:

 Provide support to the COP with strategic leadership and oversight of the activity;Serve as a member of the senior leadership team of the program and support the COP in oversight of project staff and activities;Co-lead and oversee programmatic functions, i.e., development of work plans, budgets, quarterly/annual reports, and ensure effective implementation of program strategy;Maintain effective and open communication throughout the project with COP, USAID, Project Director, Objective Leads, project operations teams, and other relevant stakeholders;Collaborate with relevant public, private, and community actors to foster country-driven, inclusive, locally relevant strategies to improve biodiversity conservation and climate outcomes;Develop and maintain robust linkages between technical, operational, monitoring & evaluation, and communications teams, to ensure timely and compliant delivery, and high-quality and timely monitoring and reporting of results and success stories;Work with the COP and other project staff to continuously refine implementation processes by integrating lessons learned and best practices;Ensure that program implementation is in accordance with Palladium’s and USAID’s regulations and procedures;In collaboration with local staff in-country, identify program opportunities and potential local partners as needed;Serve in an acting capacity in the absence of the COP; andUndertake other duties as assigned by the COP.

Required Qualifications:

 A University degree or higher in international affairs, public administration, business administration, sustainable development, and/or biodiversity, environment, or natural resource related fields; Extensive experience in program management and operations, preferably in the context of large donor-funded projects involving coordination with multiple implementing partners or institutions;Proven familiarity with best practices for protecting and restoring wildlife populations and key ecosystems in East Africa;Demonstrated experience designing and formalizing partnerships with private and public actors to achieve locally led impact;Knowledge of USAID natural resources, environment/biodiversity contract management, policies, procedures, regulations and reporting requirements preferred;Proven ability to develop and communicate a common vision among diverse partners and the ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams;Experience managing field-based biodiversity conservation and or climate change or ecosystem management and restoration;Extensive experience in developing activity work-plans, budgets, managing implementation, staff, and short-term technical assistance;Strong analytical and conceptual skills and the ability to think and plan strategically, ability to manage a diverse array of staff, consultants, and counterparts;Attention to detail and ability to effectively and efficiently perform multiple tasks and balance competing priorities, often within a required timeframe;Professional and diplomatic demeanor and conduct, especially during interactions with the client and government stakeholders;Experience working in the East Africa region preferred; experience in one or both of the focus landscapes a plus; andExcellent oral and written communication skills in English. East African nationals with relevant experience are encouraged to apply.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion - Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.  

Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch to discuss.